A short and very pleasant drive may be made, by taking the road to Northrepps, and having passed the Hall, and Hill House, both belonging to Richard Gurney, Esq., returning by the road leading to the Cottage. This mansion, which is sometimes also called the Hermitage, is inhabited by Miss Gurney, and for its romantic situation is greatly admired. It stands in a deep valley, opening towards Overstrand and the sea. It is flinted in the Gothic style, and with the porch is thatched and fitted up with great taste and simplicity. The grounds and woods by which it is surrounded are extremely beautiful. On an eminence called Toll’s-hill, not far from the cottage, is a very fine echo, produced by a bold and lofty range of hills, on the opposite side of the vale, and extending between it and the sea from Overstrand to Syderstrand. EXCURSION TO THORPE AND GUNTON HALL, RETURNING BY ROUGHTON. Taking the Norwich road, we proceed to the village of Northrepps, which is divided into two parts, called Church Street and Far Street, containing about two thousand six hundred acres of land, picturesquely broken into hill and dale, and belonging chiefly to Lord Suffield. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, though not equal to Southrepps, is a noble building, with a lofty square tower. The patronage is vested in the crown. The rectory-house and free-school, which he also endowed, were both erected at the cost of the late incumbent, the Rev. Thomas Hay, D.D. Leaving now the Norwich road, and taking that to North Walsham, we reach Thorpe Market, which is a small but extremely pretty village, about a mile from Gunton Hall, four and a half from North Walsham, and the same from Cromer. The present church is much and deservedly admired for the simplicity and elegance of its construction. It is dedicated to St. Margaret, and was partly built on the site of the old one, by the second Lord Suffield, who died in 1821. It consists only of a single arch, of flint-stone and freestone, with turrets at the angles, and a gable on each side, surmounted by a cross. The windows are ornamented with painted glass, as are also the upper parts of two light Gothic screens, which divide the chancel and the west end from the centre part, which is fitted up for divine service. It contains three ancient monuments, taken from the old church, and a handsome one by Rynart, erected to the memory of two brothers of the noble founder. The vault of the Rants (formerly lords of the manor) was under the old church, but is now securely bricked up in the churchyard. Close to the church are extensive gardens, to which parties are made, to eat strawberries and cream, &c. An oak stands there, which, for beauty and size attracts universal admiration, and is, in fact, one of the lions of the place. {36} Some Spanish chestnuts also, near the church-gate, are very fine.